(Yicai) April 10 -- Changfeng in eastern Anhui province, Xinyi in eastern Jiangsu province and Tengzhou in eastern Shandong province each logged a gross domestic product of more than CNY100 billion (USD14 billion) for the first time last year, making these county-level administrative regions the newest entrants to China’s “CNY100 Billion GDP Club.”

There are now 62 county-level regions with a GDP of more than CNY100 billion, three more than last year, according to the 2024 economic reports released by local governments.

The size of Changfeng’s economy surged 10.6 percent in 2024 from the year before to CNY104 billion, boosted by electric car giant BYD’s mega factory which opened in 2022 and produced 950,000 vehicles last year.

Kunshan in Jiangsu province was leader of the pack with an economy of CNY538 billion (USD73.3 billion), thanks to its huge electronics and information industry, worth CNY700 billion, and its equipment manufacturing cluster, worth CNY300 billion.

Kunshan was followed by neighboring Jiangyin, also in Jiangsu province, which was the only other county-level area to cross the CNY500 billion mark, with a GDP of CNY512.6 billion. Known as the cradle of the southern Jiangsu model of economic development, Jiangyin evolved from a cluster of small businesses to become a manufacturing powerhouse. It is now home to four major industries each worth over CNY100 billion, namely, high-end textiles, new metal materials, petrochemical materials and advanced equipment manufacturing.

Four of the top five counties were in Jiangsu province, with the other two being Zhangjiagang and Changshu. Changshu’s economy broke past CNY300 billion (USD40 billion) for the first time.

The only non-Jiangsu city in the top five was Jinjiang in southeastern Fujian province. Its GDP crossed the CNY350 billion threshold for the first time to reach CNY365 billion (USD49.7 billion). The city is a global hub for footwear, swimwear, umbrellas, slippers and maternal-infant supplies. It is also home to the headquarters of major sportswear brands such as Anta, 361 Degrees and Xtep.

Cixi was the county with the biggest economy in eastern Zhejiang province with a GDP of CNY293 billion. The region is famous for its small household appliances, such as heating appliances for the cold winter months.

Yiwu, known as the world’s capital for small commodities, posted a GDP of CNY250.3 billion. Shenmu in northwestern Shaanxi province, which boasts abundant coal reserves, was the only city in the west of the country to make the top 10, with a GDP of CNY250.2 billion.

Yixing, another city in Jiangsu province, and Changsha in central Hunan province, rounded up the top 10.

Editor: Kim Taylor